Types of Beams

Types of Supported Beams

Simply Supported Beams

• A simply supported beam is a straight beam with supports on each end which resist vertical and horizontal loads.
• This beam's maximum deflection point under a uniform load is in the middle of the beam between the two supports.

Cantilever Beams

• A cantilever beam is a straight beam where one end is fixed and the other end is free hanging.
• This beam is supported solely by the fixed end of the beam.
• The beam's maximum deflection point under a uniform load is at the free end of the beam.

Overhanging Beams

• An overhanging beam is a simply supported beam that has an extra part of the beam overhanging on the outside of the supports of the beam.

Continuous Beams

• A continuous beam is a beam with more than two supports.

Fixed End Beams

• A fixed end beam is a beam that is fixed at each end
• The beam's maximum deflection point under a uniform load is in the middle of the beam between the fixed ends.

Cantilever, Simply Supported Beam

• A cantilever, simply supported beam is a beam which has one fixed end and one simply supported end.
• The beam's maximum deflection point under a uniform load is in the middle of the beam between each end.

Types of Common Beams

I-Beam

• An I-beam is a beam with a cross-section that is composed of two load-bearing flanges that are separated by a web.

Straight Beam

• Straight beams are beams with a straight profile.
• Most common beam seen.

Tapered Beam

• A tapered beam is one that this wider/thicker at one end of the beam than the other.

Curved Beam

• Curved beams are beams with curved profiles.

Girder

• Girders are the main horizontal support of a structure.
• They support smaller beams.
• They often utilize a I-beam cross-section.